asked the Minister of Food by how much cocoa and chocolate prices will rise in this country as a result of his decision to pay American prices for cocoa from British West African Colonies.

The consumer prices of chocolate confectionery will be increased by amounts varying from 6d. to 1s. 2d. per lb., according to the quality and amount of chocolate used, and averaging about 10d. per lb. This will also take into account other increases in manufacturers' costs. No decision has yet been taken as to the retail price of cocoa.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the unfairness caused by the present regulation that a building worker who has to take a packed midday meal, if he is engaged on work in an urban district area, is ineligible for the extra cheese ration; and whether he will now take steps to correct this anomaly.

Workers in urban areas do not get extra cheese because they can normally use catering establishments, whereas workers in rural areas cannot.

asked the Minister of Food what are the reasons for the withdrawal of supplies of snoek from the retailers; and for what purpose it is intended to use this commodity.

Supplies have not been withdrawn from retailers. Only a small quantity of the canned snoek purchased by the Ministry has so far arrived in this country. When enough has arrived it will be distributed on the points ration.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will grant a supplementary cheese ration to ironstone quarry workers in the same way as has already been granted to limestone road-stone workers.

It should be practicable for the employers to provide ironstone quarrymen with canteens or packed meals. If there are any new factors to be considered the matter should be received through the T.U.C.

asked the Minister of Food whether he has yet any announcement to make on the margin of profit to be allowed to retailers of sweets and confectionery as from 1st January, 1948.

The new prices, which come into force at the end of February, should give distributors an overall margin of about £23 million a year on a 30z. ration, compared with about £24 million on the 40z. ration.

asked the Minister of Food the c.i.f. price paid to West Indian sugar producers in each of the years 1939–47; and what would have been the price for each of those years if, as in prewar years, the Colonial sugar price had been the Cuban price plus Imperial preference.

I regret that there is a difficulty in replying to the hon. Member's Question on the basis of c.i.f. prices, owing to the fact the freight rates applicable to British West Indian sugar and Cuban sugar varied considerably. I am, however, able to give the hon. Member the prices paid for West Indian sugar during the years 1939 to 1947 on an f.o.b. basis as follows:

asked the Minister of Food if he will now announce his decision regarding the decontrol of tomatoes in 1948.

It will again be necessary to control tomatoes during part at least of the coming summer but I have not yet determined the precise form of the control.

asked the Minister of Food what decision has been made regarding the further representations made to him concerning the inadequacy of the ¼d. per gallon increase of the basic retail margin for milk distribution, with special reference to the rural producer-retailers.

We are looking into this very carefully and no decision has yet been taken.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in the interests of the convenience of businessmen, buyers, commercial travellers and similar sections of the community, he will now revert to the old rule whereby ration books had not to be given up in hotels for visits lasting under five nights.

I regret that this should inconvenience business people, but it would be unfair at the present time to allow people staying at hotels to continue to draw their full domestic rations as well.

asked the Minister of Food when he proposes to restore the 25 per cent. cut recently made in the sugar allocation to the baking industry.

The cut, which applies to all manufacturing users, is designed to save dollars. It has only just been applied.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is satisfied that all surplus fish and fish waste is processed for use as fish meal or fertiliser.

Yes, whenever practicable.

asked the Minister of Food why his Department has refused to buy 336,000 tins of sliced bacon that are ready for shipment in Australia; and, in view of the fact that they are good value at the price asked and that grocers would have little difficulty in disposing of them, whether he will reconsider his decision.

asked the Minister of Food if he will make a statement on his negotiations for the purchase of canned bacon from Queensland.

I am grateful to hon. Members for giving me the opportunity of denying this mischievous story that bacon supplies were being refused. We have agreed with the Australian Government a programe for the production and sale to us of canned bacon in the year which started on 1st October, 1947. Under this programme, I am buying not 336,000 tins but 2,800,000 tins of bacon. We have also agreed to purchase from the Australian Government all the canned bacon that they have offered to us out of earlier production.

asked the Minister of Food whether he has considered alterations to the provisions regarding the replacement of lost ration books; and if he will make a statement.

As the result of a recent inquiry into this subject, I am satisfied that there is at present no need to make any change in the existing arrangements. The incidence of loss is, however, being kept under close observation.

asked the Minister of Food why, after refusing to purchase Christmas puddings in Australia at the beginning of the packing season, his Department, when the available supplies of tinplate had been used for other products, intimated that they were in the market for these puddings, but put forward a different specification from that used by the leading Australian packers; and if he will take steps to ensure that such Dominion suppliers of foodstuffs are not given the impression that they are being regarded by his Department as stop-gap sources.

We decided not to import Christmas puddings from Australia in 1947, because we needed the high percentage of dried fruit contained in them as such rather than in manufactured goods. But it was afterwards agreed that where Christmas puddings were already packed, or in process of being packed, import licences would be approved, as this would not affect dried fruit supplies for this country. The importers were requested to obtain a guarantee from the Australian manufacturers that the Australian Christmas puddings would conform to the standard applicable to Christmas puddings manufactured in Great Britain. It has been fully made clear to Commonwealth countries that we need all the food that they can supply, in so far as our currency position permits us to pay for it.

asked the Minister of Food why the price recently offered for canned rabbit in Australia was so low in relation to the price of rabbit carcases that it was impossible for canners to supply this product on an economic basis at the price offered.

Canned rabbits are not purchased by the Ministry of Food but limited supplies are imported from Australia and New Zealand under individual licence by private traders. These supplies are supplementary to the Ministry's own substantial purchases of frozen rabbits from the Dominions and are intended only to absorb rabbits which are not taken by the frozen trade. The maximum prices at which I am willing to recommend the importation of canned rabbits have regard to the necessity for safeguarding the more important supplies of frozen rabbits. Experience has shown however, that the prices are sufficiently high to permit of the limited trading which is intended.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that certain shopkeepers, as in the examples submitted to him, are discriminating between habitual and occasional customers, refusing to supply the latter with potatoes; and, in view of the fact that registration for potatoes is not required, if he will take steps to remedy this position.

People who have little time to spare for shopping would be at a disadvantage if I required retailers to sell potatoes to the firstcomer. I do not, therefore, take exception to shopkeepers setting aside potatoes for their regular customers.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will review a decision made by his Department refusing to supply a small quantity of wheat or rye to enable a firm whose name has been submitted to him to continue to provide their brown loaf of special composition, in view of its wide popularity for quality and low price.

The firm is licensed to obtain home-grown rye for malting but as they were unable to purchase sufficient rye to maintain their production they applied for a licence to acquire wheat for malting. Owing to the present supply position the malting of wheat is not permitted and an exception could not fairly be made in any individual case. To help the firm to overcome their difficulty they were offered an allocation of imported rye from Ministry of Food stocks but this offer was declined.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will give an assurance that foreign travel will not be permitted before the basic petrol ration is restored to motorists in this country, in view of the grave consequences this will have in coastal and holiday resorts.

I have been asked to reply. I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in the course of his speech on 22nd January. His Majesty's Government are prepared to permit foreign travel, if arrangements can be made which enable us to do so without loss of gold or dollars. The petrol which would be required for restoration of the basic ration, however, would certainly involve us in a loss of dollars.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what study his Department has undertaken of the usefulness of seaweed as a fertiliser; and with what result.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of an advisory leaflet, issued by my Department, giving the available information on the use of seaweed as manure.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how much sugar beet had been removed and how much still awaited removal from West Sussex on 31st December, 1947; and what plans he has to ensure more prompt removal of next season's crop.

Thirty thousand tons of sugar beet were removed from West Sussex by 31st December, 1947. The remaining 500 tons were moved between 31st December and 3rd January. The sugar beet contract provides for equal monthly deliveries of beet during the processing season, and no special action on my part appears to be needed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the average price paid to farmers for the 1947 wool crop; what was the average price paid by the Government to merchants who received, graded and handled the wool; and what was the average price received by the Government from manufacturers and others after resale by auction or otherwise.

The accounts for payment to farmers for the 1947 United Kingdom wool clip are not yet complete, but the average price paid will probably be approximately the same as in 1946, that is about 1s. 5½d. per lb. The merchants to whom the hon. and gallant Member refers do not buy the wool as principals, but act as agents of the Agricultural Departments, and are paid according to the services they render. The average price received by the Agricultural Departments from the sale of this wool during the current season up to 31st December was just under 2s. per pound gross, from which must be deducted administrative and marketing costs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the total weight of the wool crop for 1947.

The total weight of United Kingdom fleece wool collected by the Agricultural Departments during 1947 was approximately 45½ million lbs. There still remains a small quantity of wool as yet undelivered by farmers which will probably bring the total to between 47 and 48 million lbs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what action he is taking to ensure that the supply of spares for agricultural machinery used in this country is improved.

The larger allocations of iron and steel now being given to manufacturers should lead to increased production of home-produced spares as well as complete machines, and manufacturers have been asked to give absolute priority to spare parts as far as possible and to make every effort to enable dealers to lay in modest stocks of parts in greatest use. So far as imported parts are concerned we shall continue to make full dollar provision for all spares required for Canadian and United States machinery. Supplies of these are now improving.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what were the allocations of steel for the manufacture of agricultural machinery and spares in 1946 and 1947; and what allocation has been made for 1948.

I am afraid I am not in a position to disclose the actual tonnages of steel allocations. I can assure the hon. Member, however, that the total allocations made to manufacturers of agricultural machinery and spares in 1947 were greater than those made in 1946. Final allocations have yet to be made for the last six months of 1948, but those made for the first six months are nearly as great as the allocations for the whole of 1947.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he is taking to ensure that the land now being farmed by county agricultural committees is complying with the rules of good husbandry.

None, as I have complete confidence in the farming ability of the committees.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will make a statement on the potato acreage for 1948 arising from the special appeal made.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I have given today to the hon. Member for Newbury (Mr. Hurd).

asked the Minister of Transport if, in order to assist economy of production for export, he will permit the use in the home market of 30 feet passenger carrying vehicles with two axles instead of three, in view of the fact that with modern design two axle vehicles of this length are as safe as three axle vehicles; and is he aware that if this were done substantial saving in labour and materials would be obtained.

No. After exhaustive consideration I informed the industry in September, 1946, that I could not accept this proposal, and I am sending the hon. Member a copy of my announcement. I have, however, recently circulated proposals for small increases in maximum length for 4-wheeled public service vehicles, specifically required to facilitate standardisation in the home market.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the percentage of failures among applicants for driving licences during the three months prior to the announcement of the imposition of the basic cut in petrol; and what is the percentage of failures since the cut has been imposed.

During the three months ended 30th August, 1947, 37 per cent. of driving test candidates failed. Since that date 36.8 per cent. of the candidates have failed.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the Government's proposal to reduce labour for road maintenance, what steps he intends to take for the proper upkeep of roads in Perthshire for which he is responsible.

I have invited the co-operation of all highway authorities, both those engaged as my agents in the maintenance of trunk roads and others, to ensure that, despite reduced resources, the roads will be maintained to a standard which will enable them to carry essential traffic.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has now consulted highway authorities with regard to the reduction of road maintenance grants and the cut of 20,000 in the road maintenance force; and if he will now make a further statement.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is yet in a position to make available the text of the instructions which have been issued by him to highway authorities as to the considerations which they should have in mind in reducing road maintenance staff and expenditure.

After discussions with the representative Associations of highway authorities, I issued on 16th January a circular about the reduction in road works, the terms of which are given at the end of this reply: My divisional road engineers will very shortly be able to inform highway authorities of the grants which will be available towards road maintenance in 1948–49 and to settle with them the cuts in staff which will be expected from them.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is prepared to allow farmers, veterinary surgeons and food deliverers to use their motor cars on the Manifold Valley Road, in view of the fact that the closure of this road hinders food production and distribution in the area.

No. To make the road suitable for use by motorcars would entail a greater expenditure of money and call on labour and materials than can be justified.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the delay and cost which is being incurred at Liverpool and Birkenhead Docks in discharging and turning round road haulage vehicles particularly those with traffic for the Australian and New Zealand boats; what is the cause of the congestion; and what action is being taken to effect early improvement.

Yes. A working party has been set up in the port to investigate the causes of the congestion and to make recommendations for its reduction. The working party has not yet completed its investigations.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has any record of the number of people who have been prosecuted for breaches of the Regulation of Traffic (Formation of Queues) Order, 1942; and how long it is intended that this Order should be continued in force.

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the negative, and to the second part that this Order was made under Defence Regulation 70 and will lapse when the Regulation expires.

asked the Minister of Transport why reflecting road studs in built-up areas are not being replaced when damaged, and are to be taken up as roads are resurfaced; and if he will reconsider this decision in view of the difficulties of driving in darkened streets in winter.

On main traffic routes in urban areas, where reflecting studs were provided during the war, street lighting is now back to a reasonable standard and motorists do not generally use their headlamps. I am advised that the studs are, accordingly, of little value in such areas.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that British civilians leaving India are not allowed to take their household goods and furniture, as British shipping companies have been ordered by the British Government to refuse private cargo; and if he will relax these orders in the case of British civilians leaving India on retirement.

I am not aware of any such instructions and I understand that in fact household goods and furniture are being shipped.

asked the Minister of Transport how the service charge in respect of meals served in railway restaurant cars is allocated; whether this charge is designed to take the place of gratuities; and to what extent the staff benefit under this arrangement.

This is a matter for the British Transport Commission and I am drawing their attention to my hon. Friend's Question.

asked the Minister of Transport the total number of wagons o all types that have been repaired Barassie workshops during the October to December period; and the number stored in various sidings in the Kilmarnock and Polmadie Control Areas waiting to undergo repairs in those works at 31st December, 1947.

4,362 and 470 respectively.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the number of locomotives at the St. Rollox, Polmadie, and Corkerhill locomotive depots in Scotland, not in traffic, either because of temporary or major repairs being required, at 31st December, 1947.

The numbers at these depots under and awaiting temporary and major repairs at 31st December, 1947, were 10, 52 and 23 respectively.

asked the Minister of Transport how many unserviceable locomotives and wagons there were in Britain at the end of the war; how many there are now; and how many new locomotives and wagons have been made since the end of the war for use in Britain.

I am making inquiries and will circulate a statement in HANSARD as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport whether approximately 5,000 railway wagons have been standing idle on a disused railway in Ayrshire in the Galston—Strathaven area for approximately four years; whether any of these were considered suitable for repair; what payments have been made by his Department for the service of the wagons during this period; and how long the wagons will remain in their present state.

The maximum number of wagons standing in this area at any one time has been 2,600; 1,500 were placed there in August, 1947. There are now 1,962, practically all of which are considered suitable for repair. One thousand eight hundred and seven of these were requisitioned from private owners but information is not readily available of the payments made for their hire whilst they were out of service. The time taken to repair them will depend upon the availability of materials but they are being allocated to depots for repair as rapidly as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the congested conditions on the Central London Railway serving Liverpool Street and stations east and north thereof between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on week-day evenings; and what steps he proposes to take to improve this situation.

This is a matter for the British Transport Commission and I am bringing the hon. Member's Question to their attention.

asked the Minister of Transport how many persons now receive special travelling facilities on the nationalised railways; and if he will publish a list of those who hold permanent free passes.

This is a matter for the British Transport Commission and I am bringing the hon. Member's Question to their attention.

asked the Minister of Transport the total cost of advertising in the national Press a New Year message from himself and the chairman of the Railway Commission; and why this expenditure was incurred.

This space had been already reserved by the Railway Companies for general advertising purposes under contract entered into before 1st January, and it was considered appropriate to utilise the space for the publication of a message to the whole staff of the railways upon the occasion of such important changes. The proportionate value under contract of the space used is estimated at £1,500.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the inadequacy of the train service to intermediate stations between York and Northallerton; and whether, in view of the numerous villages served by these intermediate stations, he will take steps to have the present service improved.

This is a matter for the British Transport Commission and I am bringing the hon. Member's Question to their attention.

asked the Minister of Supply what steps he takes, before announcing public auction of surplus equipment, to ascertain whether that equipment is required by other Government Departments.

Stores needed by other Government Departments are notified to the Ministry of Supply and if such stores are available, these needs are met from surpluses before they are offered for sale.

asked the Minister of Supply why his Department in 1946 refused an offer of £120 for a salt bath at Carleton Mills, near Skipton; and why he immediately issued orders for its dismantling at a cost of £75 to the taxpayer and received less than £10 for scrap metal.

I regret that I have been unable to trace any offer for this salt bath. Our efforts to sell it were unsuccessful and it had to be scrapped to enable the Carleton Factory to be handed over to an industrial firm. The scrap was sold for £27 10s.

asked the Minister of Supply what steps he proposes to take to increase the manufacture of automatic looms for the cotton textile industry; and whether he accepts the objections of the Evershed Committee to the use of Royal Ordnance factories for this purpose.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for East Harrow (Mr. Skinnard) on 1st December last, of which I am sending him a copy. The output of automatic looms is increasing rapidly and there is for some time ahead sufficient capacity to use the materials and components available. I am however considering with the manufacturers what steps it would be possible to take to provide additional capacity if materials supplies could be further increased. In this connection the use of Royal Ordnance factories will be considered, although I do not discount the difficulties to which the Evershed Report draws attention.

asked the Minister of Supply how many men were employed at the R.O.F. factory at Euxton in December, 1945, and December, 1947, respectively; what the factory was producing at each period; and whether the factory capacity is now in maximum production.

Five thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven men were employed at the Royal Ordnance Factory, Chorley, in December, 1945, and 3,333 in December, 1947. In 1945 the factory was mainly engaged on filling projectiles and the recovery of material from breaking down surplus stores. In 1947 it was also engaged on work on clothing, prefabricated concrete rural houses, pre-stressed concrete railway sleepers and special packing of Service and Ministry of Supply stores. The ammunition filling capacity is not fully employed, but alternative work is being undertaken to the fullest extent that materials allow.

asked the Minister of Supply, in view of the imminent shortage of electric welding electrodes, what steps he is taking to augment supplies of suitable steel to welding electrode manufacturers.

This type of wire is made from billets of special quality. Hitherto the expanded demand has been met by means of the import of the requisite billets from the U.S.A., but this supply is no longer available. Expansion of production here is difficult owing to the special capacity and technique required, but output is being increased as far as possible, while we are trying to import electrode wire as such from the U.S.A

asked the Minister of Supply what steps he is going to take to alleviate the forthcoming shortage of limestone for the iron and steel industry.

Iron and steel production has not been affected this winter by a shortage of limestone or lime. I am in close touch with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport, who is responsible for the production of these materials, about the future requirements of the iron and steel industry.

asked the Minister of Supply whether, having regard to the urgency of obtaining more scrap for the Iron and Steel Industry and in order to encourage potential sellers to come forward, he will review the prices now paid for the various grades in the light of the national urgency and the postwar rise in handling costs in this country.

The Iron and Steel Board have recently, at my request, given special consideration to this question, but are satisfied that an increase in current controlled prices would not produce any appreciable increase in scrap deliveries.

asked the Minister of works whether he is aware that certain building employers' associations in Lancashire are refusing to operate the payment by results scheme and, in view of the importance of securing the best use of our building resources, whether he will look into the matter.

I am not aware that any building employers' associations in Lancashire have refused to operate a scheme of payment by results, though I understand that in two areas its introduction has been postponed in view of the large amount of maintenance work. Under the Building Industry's Settlement of 20th October, 1947, an incentive system of bonus payments is permissive and not obligatory upon the employer, and this question is one for agreement between the employer and operatives on each site.

asked the Minister of Works whether he will give security of tenure to allotment holders in the Royal Parks for a definite period of two or three years.

I have agreed to extend the tenure of allotment holders in the Royal Parks until March, 1949, but I am not prepared at present to commit myself beyond that date.

asked the Minister of Works why, although he is unable to meet all demands made upon his Department from sponsored appeals for surplus hutments, it is possible for private contractors to sell similar surplus hutments freely on the open market.

Surplus hutting handed over to my Department for disposal is not sold to contractors except where the hutting is of no interest to sponsored applicants or where the need for clearing a site is too urgent to allow the normal procedure to operate. If my hon. and gallant Friend will give me particulars of any case in which this procedure has not been followed I will look into it.

asked the Minister of Works whether it is his intention to concentrate the brick-making industry in order to save fuel.

No.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware of the deterioration which is taking place in the huts and buildings at Langar Aerodrome, near Melton Mowbray; and whether he will take steps to release this surplus material for use on building repairs in the locality.

Of the ten camps at Langar Aerodrome five are held by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health for housing purposes, and three are occupied by prisoners of war. In the other two cases all the removable assets have been sold and merely await clearance by the purchasers.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware of the danger and inconvenience caused to the public by the extensive barbed wire defence works on Abinger Common, Surrey; and when the clearance of this land is to be carried out.

I would refer the hon. Member to my predecessor's reply to him on 10th February last. I regret that the general situation does not yet permit me to proceed with the restoration of this area.

asked the Minister of Works what is the value of the building work authorised by him in connection with the forthcoming Olympic Games.

Building licences to the value of about £91,000 have been granted. My Department is also carrying out work at Richmond Park, for the benefit of the Olympic Committee, at an estimated cost of £35,000.

asked the Minister of Works what expenditure from public funds is involved in the use of the camp in Richmond Park for the housing of Olympic athletes.

My Department is carrying out work at Richmond Park, for the benefit of the Olympic Committee, at an estimated cost of £35,000, which is to be repaid by the Committee.

asked the Minister of Works what was the number and value of applications for building licences in excess of £10,000 received during the most recent 12 months available, for factories, works and other industrial and commercial premises; what percentage was refused; and what percentage is still held over awaiting decision.

I am afraid that records are not kept under these headings and the extraction of the figures would involve an additional burden upon my staff that I should not feel justified in placing upon them. If my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind, I should be glad to have special inquiries made into it.

asked the Minister of Works what evidence he has of any marked reduction in the amount of illegal building since the introduction of S.R. & O., 1946, No. 371, in March last, which increased the maximum penalties and prescribed minimum penalties for infringements; and whether any further steps are contemplated.

There has been no marked change in the number of contraventions brought to notice since the penalties were increased in March, 1946. Local authorities are now empowered to bring proceedings under Defence Regulation 56A and no further measures are in mind at present.

asked the Minister of Works how much of the surplus canteen equipment available after the war from Army units and N.A.A.F.I.'s has been allotted to school canteens, in view of the general shortage of such equipment, and the difficulties which education authorities in particular are having in obtaining it.

Surplus Army canteen equipment is taken into general stock from which all Government requirements are met and I cannot say how much is used for a particular service. The Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes dispose of their own surplus goods.

asked the Minister of Works when a firm of Spalding solicitors, whose name and address has been communicated to him, may expect to receive a reply to their letters of 19th April, 1947, 6th June, 1947, 17th October, 1947, and 19th December, 1947.

An officer of the Department visited the firm on 15th January to apologise for the failure to reply and to explain the circumstances. I must express regret for this failure which is the subject of inquiry within the Department.

asked the Minister of Works whether, before taking a 23 years' lease of the Carlton Hotel, consideration was given to the lack of hotel accommodation in London and the need for expanding this accommodation in order to assist tourist traffic.

asked the Minister of Works for what purpose premises at Arlesey, Bedfordshire, previously occupied by Mr. Trigg, are being converted by his Department for official use.

These premises, which have been leased from Mr. Trigg, are being prepared as a local office of the Ministry of National Insurance.

Yes. The hotel was held on requisition for use as offices and there was no prospect of our being able to dispense with it for some years. Also, we had good reason to believe that the building would, in any case, be let as offices when it was derequisitioned. In these circumstances we entered into negotiations for a lease.

asked the Minister of Works what was the average price per 1,000 of Belgium bricks, of Belgian and English size, respectively, delivered at London, above and below bridges, at Aberdeen and South Wales imported during 1947; and how such average prices compare with the controlled price of English bricks per 1,000.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will give information respecting the supply of text and other school books in the British zone of Germany; and to what extent there is reciprocal or joint action between the British and other zones in respect of securing an adequate supply of these books.

From July, 1945, to November, 1947, 15,000,000 school textbooks were printed in the British zone of Germany and British sector of Berlin. This figure is considerably below minimum requirements, but the shortage of textbooks is only one aspect of the overall paper shortage. Some textbooks have been made available from the French and American zones, but only against the supply of paper out of the British zone allocation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will give information respecting the compulsory transference from the British zone of German adults or children to areas beyond their own country; and whether any previously transferred have been returned to the British zone.

My right hon. Friend has no information either of compulsory transfers from the British zone or of the return to the zone of such people.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the many tools, since returned, were taken away from the Kolibri Comb Factory in Germany and transferred to this country.

My right hon. Friend has not yet received the report of the Military Governor on the results of the inquiry, to which I have referred previously in the House. I will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as it is received.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that considerable sums are being deducted from the current pay of members of the Control Commission, Germany, staff in order that the Foreign Office may hold a sum against possible over-payment in Germany; and how he justifies such action.

A deduction is made from the pay of a member of the Control Commission in Germany at the end of the first month of service to cover his probable monthly requirements of local currency advances as estimated by the member himself. The amount so deducted is held as a fixed deposit which is re-credited to the individual on his permanent return to the United Kingdom. No further deduction of the kind is made unless on a three months' average the member's local drawings in Germany materially exceed his original estimate, and then only to the extent of such excess. In the circumstances, regard the arrangement as a necessary and equitable one.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the informal discussions which have been held with Mr. Marshall relating to the proposal that no further German plants should be delivered to the Soviet Union, in reparations.

No proposal has yet been made to stop the delivery of German plants as reparations to the Soviet Union.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why it falls within the province of two Generals to determine economic policy in the British zone of Germany.

I think my hon. Friend must be misinformed. Economic policy in the British zone of Germany is determined by His Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how long the Headquarters of the Commander-in-Chief of the American Naval Forces in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean has been located in London; and what were the terms of the agreement under which these Headquarters were so located.

The Headquarters of the Commander-in-Chief of the United States, Naval Forces in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, has been established in London since 1st November, 1947. There has, however, been a United States Naval Staff in London since April, 1941, when an officer of Flag Rank was attached to the American Embassy as Special United States Naval Observer. A year later the officer holding this post was also given an operational command as Commander United States Naval Forces, Europe, and this situation still continues. This followed a precedent established in the 1914–18 war when a similar Headquarters with similar duties was also located in London. The title of the United States Naval Headquarters here has, however, for administrative and operational reasons, since been modified on two occasions, the last being, as stated above, on 1st November, 1947. Confirming approval for the presence of a United States Naval Officer of Flag Rank and Staff in London was given by His Majesty's Government and the United States Government in May, 1941.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what recommendations he has received from the Manpower Economy Committee in his Department; and what steps he proposes to take.

The R.A.F. Manpower Economy Committee has submitted a number of interim reports, which are under examination in my Department. The Committee is continuing its work and will be submitting further recommendations.

asked the Minister of Health what acreage of agricultural land actively farmed has been requisitioned for present or future housing estates since the war; and if he will hold up the requisitioning and pulling down of farm buildings on property where the immediate utilisation of the land is impossible.

The information is not available. As regards the second part of the Question, I am sending the hon. Member copies of two circulars issued to housing authorities.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the continued shortage of paper, he will take steps to develop the paper salvage campaign to wartime levels.

I would refer the hon Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Bridgwater (Mr. Bartlett) on 20th January. I would like to repeat the appeal I then made to the public and local authorities, particularly in the more populous areas, to intensify their salvage efforts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the "Lancet," a medical journal of high repute, and with a continuous history of publication for over a century, has been obliged to inform intending subscribers that it is unable to accept any new entries, owing to the further reduction in allocation of newsprint; and whether he will revise this allocation.

There is a general shortage of paper for all purposes and periodical publishers are necessarily finding difficulty in meeting the demands of new subscribers. There has, however, been no recent reduction in the quantity which the publishers of the "Lancet" may obtain and use. I regret that cannot increase this quantity in present circumstances.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he proposes to give effect to the recommendation made in paragraph 176 of the Cohen Committee's Report that a committee should be appointed to advise the Board of Trade on matters arising in the administration of the Companies Acts.

Yes. I have appointed a Committee to help the Board of Trade in a consultative capacity on matters arising in the administration of the Companies Acts, and as many specialised accountancy questions will arise in the administration of the Acts, I have also appointed a Committee of well-known accountants to advise the Board in that field. Close liaison will be maintained between the two Committees. The membership of the Committees is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether any attempt was made to settle the dispute between India and Pakistan within the British Commonwealth of Nations; and whether the Government will take steps, with a view to setting up a permanent consultative body of representatives from all British Commonwealth Nations to deal with such matters, instead of referring them to the United Nations Organisation.

It is, of course, always open to members of the British Commonwealth to seek the assistance of other members in the settlement of their differences. In the dispute between India and Pakistan as regards Kashmir, no such suggestion was made by either Government concerned. As regards the suggestion for setting up a permanent consultative body of representatives from British Commonwealth countries, this is a matter which would require the consent of all the Commonwealth countries, and the United Kingdom Government do not believe that, in present conditions, it would be practicable to obtain such general agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give an assurance that the date of final evacuation of British troops and material from Palestine will not be postponed or delayed by any consideration for the orange harvest; and that the passage of troops and material will have absolute priority over all other traffic.

Yes. The transport and export of citrus will not delay the withdrawal of British troops from Palestine or the evacuation of materials.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the total tonnage of R.N. stores and equipment now in Palestine; and how much of that is to be evacuated by R.N. ships, by other ships and by railway, respectively, before August, 1948.

The total tonnage of R.N. stores and equipment now in Palestine is of the order of 7,000 tons. It is hoped to remove all these stores in Royal Fleet Auxiliaries before August, 1948, with the possible exception of certain non-warlike stores which will become redundant and which may be disposed of locally.

asked the Attorney-General if, as there is no time in the present Session for all stages of legislation to carry out the recommendations of the Rushcliffe Report on Legal Aid, he will arrange for a Bill to be formally introduced so that it can be examined by hon. Members and the public.

It is intended that we shall introduce the Legal Aid Bill, to which my hon. Friend refers, at the beginning of next Session. It is doubtful whether it will be possible to publish the text before the end of the summer.

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning if he is aware that it is proposed to establish a permanent small-arms range on the Burley part of Ilkley Moor; that this suggested range affects 500 acres and is to be used chiefly at weekends; and will he do everything possible to keep open the moor especially at weekends so that the people who live in the West Riding towns and cities may have use of it, especially in view of the fact that much of the Ilkley Moor is still closed to the public owing to the suspected presence of unexploded bombs.

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War on 20th January.

asked the Minister of Education the number of refusals of admission to infants' schools since the raising of the school leaving age; and what is now the average infant school entering age as compared with a year ago.

I regret that this information will not be available until the Returns for January, 1948, now coming in from the local education authorities, have been analysed. Where the admission of some infants to school has had to be deferred beyond the age of five, this is due to such factors as the rise in the birthrate and general building difficulties rather than to the raising of the school-leaving age.

asked the Minister of Education how many children between the ages of 5 and 15 are now attending rate-aided schools; and how many private and public schools.

The following table gives the information as nearly as it is available for January, 1947, the latest date for which I have figures:—

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of people registered as unemployed in Wallasey on 14th January, or the nearest convenient date.

1,210 males and 580 females at 12th January.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the cost during the last 12 months in foreign currencies of our membership of various international organisations and in particular the cost in foreign currencies of the expenses of delegates to attend meetings under the auspices of such organisations.

The cost during the last 12 months of United Kingdom membership of various international organisations has been £2,080,801 in various foreign currencies of convertible sterling. The cost in foreign currencies during the same period of the expenses of delegates to attend meetings under the auspices of such organisations is estimated at £375,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what number of proof gallons of spirit were produced in the year ended 30th September, 1947, in pot still, distillers using malt only, and in patent still, distillers using malt and other materials, respectively.

I regret that this information is not yet available; perhaps the hon. Member will put down a similar Question early next month.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sums up to 31st December, 1948, were transferred from No. 2 to No. 1 Accounts under the provisions of paragraphs 6, 8 (b) and 10, respectively, of the Annex to the Anglo-Egyptian financial agreement, dated 30th June, 1947

The figures are £7,954,000, nil and £1,250,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the sum expended under the provisions of Article IV 2 (a) and (b), respectively, of the Anglo Egyptian payments agreement, dated 30th June, 1947.

The figures are nil and £1,129,000 respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number and total value of No. 1 Accounts at 31st December, 1947, opened under the Anglo-Egyptian payments agreement of 30th June, 1947.

I am afraid I am not prepared to divulge this information.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the balance of £12 million granted under Article V of the Anglo-Egyptian payments agreement of 30th June, 1947, has been utilised in its entirety by the Egyptian Government.

This £12 million was provided as a working balance, to be drawn down and replenished according to seasonal fluctuations in Egypt's sterling position. I have no reason to believe that it is being used otherwise than in accordance with the intention of the agreement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the sum to be paid to the Egyptian Government under Article III 1 (b) of the Anglo-Egyptian payments agreement of 5th January, 1948.

We believe this sum to be in the region of £1 million.

asked the hon. Member for Walthamstow, West, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, what was the total sum contributed to the Staff Christmas Fund.

The total amount contributed to the Staff Christmas Fund was £1,038 14s. 6d.